Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-04-29
NJ, E,neriencc IN PnnI,rr.
10. X. W, Springfield, Vt, March, 1887. in Run
NeruOntpr

Vermonter
Poultry raising. by the average farmer
is rather uncertain business, or at least, the
net profit is not always as large in the peck
ct as the fancicrs figure it on paper. My
experience the past season is not very un
common one among farmers who have 9th
er irons in the fire. -
In April | set three hens at the same
time, each on thirteen eggs, thinking to put
the chicks together at Matching time, and
save the time of two hens (hens time being
importantly The hens attended strictly to
business, broke about one-half their eggs,
and came off in due time with one chick
for the three hens. The whole responsible
ty of the 30 eggs, and the untiring cluck-
ing of the three fond mothers so wore upon
the feeble chicken, which had naturally
frail constitution, that it died ON the morn
ing of the third day. | then set two hens
upon eggs obtained from neighbors cele-
brated for luck in poultry. The two dozen
high-priced eggs produced five chickens,
two of which died upon the nest The 9TH
er three, precious things wife brought up
as cossets put them to bed nights and car
ed for them at early dawn. To their credit
be it said, they grew apace, and were nice,
large ROSTERS at Thanksgiving time
In July, wise old hen observing how
things were going, stole her nest. and came
off with eleven promising chicks These
We're cooped and kindly cared for until ali
enteIprising skunk made a night raid, and
captured four. The hawks came in for
their share and carried off three. OF the
four remaining, three We're cockerels and
one a pullet. She is a nice one worthy to
represent the old stock. and with the dozen
purchased at a high figure, because they
lir,ll vii.
stock with which 10 repeat, with variations,
in 1887, what have 50 successfully accom-
plished in 1886 and what hundreds are ac-
complishing all over the country in the
chicken business We usually keep from
10 to % hens, and we feed them all the
corn and oats they will eat They have
| for quarters i'll winter a barn cellar, 34XSj
| feet; in summer n run of 300 acre farm,
| bordering on the Connecticut river, which
affords abundance of fresh water at all sea
sons. There is, also, on the run, all kinds
of gravel, from river sand for the tiny
| chicks, up TO the powders of 100 tons
| large enough to fill the gizzard of the most
aspiring Langshan cockerel We obtain
| plenty of eggs in spring, when eggs are
cheap, and very few at other seasons. |
estimate that the eggs cost me 20 cents per
dozen, and the poultry % cents per pound.
very satisfactory In war time, when ev-
cry thing was high, l purchased a trio Of
old educated geese, and pet goose gosling.
the belle and pride of the flock. The old
geese began laying in due time, and attend
ed to business. The young belle went on
the nest every day, but laid nary an egg,
and never knew the difference. When the
old ones began to set the young one did the
same. The old ones Matched and raised To
gosling hood a nice flock When corn was
fit for the crows to pull, the sagacious birds
spotted my field, and all the crows in the
nation seemed in league to pluck every
spear The situation was imminent Some
thing must be done. l soaked corn in di-
luted strychnine and sowed ON the field.
The crows were conquered. The provident
old gander, that was always on the look
out for sweet fields, spying small breach
in the fence, sounded his call note. and led
forth his flock to a feast of poisoned corn
The most of them were conquered, but the
belle, being modest, escaped-till Christmas
then concluded to 90 out of the goost
business and try turkeys, which felt hac
a talent for raising. My neighbor Jones
who knew all about turkeys, offered to sci
, me some small, undeveloped birds, which h,
assured me would make better layers il
spring than the more mature ones, and a
about one-half the price. l purchased
T trio Of his selection. In spring, at nestinl
3 time, had very few eggs, for the turkey
2 proved, all three, gobblers. l then decide,
= to give up poultry raising for profit" an,
devote my energies to the pig, hoping to d.
as well as Henry Ward Beecher did upoi
his farm. The reverend gentleman pur
j chased pigs in spring at 81 80 per head, fe,
- them $50 worth of corn, and then sol
them at so piece He said he lost a ittl
, on the corn, but he made a good profit OF
the pigs.